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What is Mixology?

• Mixing any two or more ingredients with alcohol in order to create a cocktail.

• Mixology can be really fun even if you aren’t familiar with mixing cocktails and creating new innovative drinks.

• Remember…the possibilities are endless.

Download the sample recipes…

MIXOLOGY101SAMPLE DRINKS

Watch a slide show of the launch…

RÖKK Vodka, is made from spring water, distilled five times and freeze filtered to create a smooth spirit with a refreshing ice finish. Sweden’s Viking heritage is reflected in the brands packaging and identity, giving RÖKK Vodka an authentic heritage, masculine personality and memorable name.

RÖKK Vodka gives consumers the variety they demand, including unflavored RÖKK Vodka, as well as four popular flavored vodkas—Apple, citrus, Raspberry and Orange

RÖKK won Double Gold Medal in this year’s
San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Tasting Notes:

RÖKK Vodka Clean and light, with the faintest hint of lemongrass
RÖKK Citrus Vodka Juicy lemon with a zesty lime finish
RÖKK Orange Vodka Tangerine notes and a Clementine orange blend that cuts clean
RÖKK Raspberry Vodka Jammy, with muddled rip summer berry notes
RÖKK Apple Vodka Fresh-picked, red, delicious apples with a hint of tart cider finish

ROKK is the only ‘premium’ Nordic vodka that is Freeze Filtered for exceptional smoothness

Ask your CDI sales representitive for more information on ROKK Vokda.

Download the Ad Slick
ROKK AD SLICK

Download the sell sheets below.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, California – Highly Recommended, The Tasting Panel/Anthony Dias Blue, June 2010

2008 Chardonnay, California – Best of Class & Gold Medal – Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition

2007 Liar’s Dice Zinfandel – 4 Stars/Excellent – Restaurant Wine/Ronn Wiegand, May 2010

2007 Liar’s Dice Zinfandel – Highly Recommended – Connoisseurs’ Guide/Charles Olken, May 2010

TastingPanelJune2010

RestWineMay2010

ConsGuideMay2010

HOGUE

Syrah Columbia Valley Genesis 2007 (90 points)

Smooth and velvety, delivering a warm, inviting mouthful of blueberry, plum, coffee and spice flavors that linger against refined tannins. Drink now through 2015. 6,676 cases made. From Washington.

—Harvey Steiman

Several studies have shown that moderate consumption of wine is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. But is wine the cause, and what specifically in the wine? Two new studies suggest wine does play a role and that chemicals in the grapes may help.

Read the full story at WineSpectator.com.

Bacardi Torched Cherry

CDI will be launching this exciting new Bacardi Flavor next Friday.

Experience a new realm of flavor with BACARDI® TORCHED CHERRY™ Flavored Rum. Barbados cherries and torched plant aloe are fused together to create this bold flavor that mixes with all your classic favorites.

BACARDI® TORCHED CHERRY™ & COCA-COLA®

Enliven your COCA-COLA® with the new, exotic taste of TORCHED CHERRY™.

BACARDI® TORCHED CHERRY™ TORCHADE

Take your lemonade up a notch with the smooth, bold taste of TORCHED CHERRY™.

ENJOY OUR PRODUCTS RESPONSIBLY. www.bacardi.com

I hark back to a cartoon I read over twenty years ago – First frame shows a customer tasting a certain wine in a wine shop…customer exclaims, “This is awful!” Second frame: store person says “The Wine Speculator rated it 90 points”. Customer says “I’ll take a case”.

Never has a picture spoken truer words and little did that cartoonist know how strongly prophetic that piece would be twenty years later. The specter of the wine rating still exists and more than ever wields far too much influence and further numbs the individual’s ability to exercise his/her own judgment. Taking it a step further, its 1984 (George Orwell) all over again; forget about the freedom to make decisions and the freedom to form impressions based on one’s individual development of sensory faculties.

The great aspect of this business, however, is that usually there are no right or wrong answers – just opinions. We’re playing a subjective game; we all should keep that perspective. The gray area (read: individual preference) should far surpass the black and white (the arbiter of taste), yet I keep hearing the horror stories.

Retailers tell me of customers who stroll into their stores with wine publications tucked under their arms looking for nothing but those “highly rated wines”. (Reminds me of the parade scene in “Animal House”, when one of the crazy frat boys marched the band right into the alley and into that brick wall – nobody bothered to question the direction, they just followed).

The disease starts to spread. Certain retailers and restaurateurs draw the line at 90 points and begin to view those wines rated in the 80’s with a jaded eye. Stop the madness!

I’ll venture a guess that over the course of a year, of all the wines rated in all the publications that attach a numerical meaning to subjectivity, maybe 15-20% hit that sacred plateau of 90 points or higher. Does that mean 80-85 % of the rest of the world’s wines aren’t worth a hoot? Knowing that it’s hopeless unless you’re in the “90 Club” are all these wine growers looking at the prospect of closing their doors, replanting corn or rhubarb where vines once stood? Enough!

I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit that we at CDI occasionally fall into that trap. Everybody gets excited over a “great rating”. When the new publications come out, most readers go straight to the ratings section; the articles can wait. You’d have to live in a vacuum not to be affected somewhat by this element of wine viewing.

I also understand that elite wines do exist, that it would be too simplistic to lump all wines together. There are points of distinction but the lines drawn aren’t as precise as we’re led to believe.

My biggest fear is that we set an ugly precedent for newcomers. People just beginning to realize the pleasures of wine will sooner or later become subjected to the rating game. I believe it is our duty to keep them virginal as long as possible.

P.S. – I’d be curious to know how you, our readers, would rate this article – personally, I’d rate it “89”.

GA

This is an ongoing series of wine facts and trivia presented by our Director of Training and Education, Greg Altieri. Please contact us if you have a specific question or topic you would like to see covered here.

89 Points

“There are over 2 million cases of the 2008 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, all 100% barrel fermented Chardonnay from Jess Jackson’s own estate vineyards. This wine displays plenty of tropical fruit, lemon butter, and citrus in a fresh, lively style, with the wood clearly pushed to the background. Hats off to winemaker Randy Ullom, who has been behind this massive winemaking task for many years. This is another hugely successful wine that can be found discounted in the $10-12 range, and should be drunk over the next year. The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner’s Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.”

Robert Parker Feb 2010 issue.

88 POINTS

Placed 2nd in Top Value California Cabernet under $35

3/10/10 – Wine Spectator

“Trim and focused, with spice, dill, cedar, black cherry and plum flavors. Full-bodied and elegant in weight, ending with delicate fruit and cedar notes. Drink now through 2016..” –JL

Download the sell sheet:  B.R. Cohn Silver Label – 2010 Wine Spectator

Need some “green” drinks for St. Patrick’s Day. Check out this great list of drinks from Bacardi.

Download the .pdf file:  GREEN DRINKS BY BACARDI